A terminally ill mother got her dream wedding and honeymoon after a community rallied round to fund her last wish.

Roseann Kennedy, 37, was walked down the aisle by her three year-old son JJ when she married her husband Justin in Co Offaly last week.

The mum has been overwhelmed by the incredible goodwill she has encountered while facing into what will, in all likelihood, be her last Christmas.

Since being diagnosed with cancer she has been getting gifts, kind words, prayers and support from strangers and friends alike.

The young mother told how she’s devastated that she won’t be around for her young son and she plans to video herself reading some of his favourite books.

She added: “It upsets me to leave him behind. As long as he remembers me like this though -the doctors think it is going to be pretty quick anyway, they are expecting a stroke or something like that to just do it.

“It’s palliative care from here on out. There’s no point getting angry about it because there is nothing you can do.”

On learning of her condition, her employers at the County Arms Hotel in Birr, Co Offaly decided to help Roseann fulfill some of her dreams.

They began by taking her to meet the Munster rugby team and Paul O’Connell later sent a congratulatory message to Roseann and Justin on their wedding.

Staff then pooled their money to send Roseann and Justin on their dream holiday -a pre-wedding honeymoon in New York last November.

She was given VIP treatment on arrival at Shannon Airport and soon found the generosity of spirit had extended across the Atlantic.

A New York cop stepped in and got the couple front row seats for the Christmas tree lighting at the Rockefeller Centre, gave them police escorts and treated them to dinner at an exclusive restaurant.

Roseann was admiring a ring at a jewellers on Broadway. She couldn’t afford it and opted for another ring at half the $3,000 plus price tag.

But when the shop owner heard of her illness, she insisted she take the original ring at the price of the less expensive model.

On her return to Ireland arrangements got underway for the wedding.

She was given a dress to wear by local bridal shop owner Catherine Dwyer, while friends looked after the flowers and the cake.

A photographer did the wedding free of charge, entertainers slashed prices and the hotel laid on free rooms.

Roseann’s sister Linda added: “It wasn’t an unhappy day at all. There were no tears on the wedding day. People were really worried it was going to turn into a goodbye party-it was anything but.”